Beards. Some of us have them, some of us wish we had them, and others just don't care for them. Whichever side of the fence you're on, odds are you've at least been curious about growing one out to see how it would look. I've always been one of those guys who has been clean-shaven. It's a classic look and is acceptable just about everywhere. It doesn't require any effort on my part aside from going to Walmart to get new blades periodically.
The first time I shaved was when I was 15. My dad got me first razor for Christmas and I was skeptical about shaving. I was worried about cutting my baby face with this sharp blade and made sure to get tons of shaving cream slathered in before the first slice. Luckily they make shaving cream for sensitive skin.
Since that day, I've realized that a beard wasn't God's Plan. Meanwhile, my best friend at the time was sporting the thickest of facial thickets. I didn't understand. We worked out all the time together and I was more athletic, surely I had more testosterone to grow a beard! Little did I know beards and body hair come down to genetics and the level of DHT in your body. DHT is also responsible for male pattern baldness.
Fast forward to college, and half of my friends have beards, seemingly without effort. I can think of a couple off the top of my head that grows them overnight. Seriously, I've seen these guys come to class clean shaven only to come back tomorrow with more facial follicles than I've mustered in my life.
So this summer I'm trying something new. I've noticed an increase in facial hair in the spots where I was previously lacking. This gives me hope. I might be able to grow a little something after all. Besides, my dad has always bragged about how he could grow a beard in middle school so maybe I have a bit of those genes, even if the curly afro hair skipped over me (not a problem, I might add).
I am going to grow my 'beard' out to my heart's content while no one is in Tallahassee to see. My responsibilities are at an all-time low which gives me enough time to focus on growing out this sucker. Check back with me in the fall when I've either lost hope completely or look like James Harden.
